Office Dress Codes and What You Need To Know
We all have one thing in common and we often can’t help it... someone walks past and we instantly jump to judge how they look. “Hate that tie” “Her skirt is too short”... Sound familiar? Whether you like it or not, your clothing communicates and it can have an effect on people's perception of you.
"Let's be clear, in the big picture of ultimate reality, what you wear neither defines who you are as a person nor determines your value as a human being," says Darlene Price, president of Well Said and author of "Well Said! Presentations and Conversations That Get Results." "However in the temporal realm of mere mortals, fair or not - people judge us by the way we look and that includes the way we dress." Especially in the workplace, clothing significantly influences how others perceive you and how they respond toward you, she says.
Picture this… A large orange cat with black stripes comes barging into your office from what you see you believe it is a tiger. Strong, powerful and fierce. Anyone would have the same reaction. It would be the same if a well dressed, coordinated and neat business person came into their office. I would believe they were organised and paid attention to detail.
Perception is often reality. Your appearance can strongly influence other people's perception of your ability, authority, trustworthiness, intelligence, and suitability for hire or promotion. What you wear not only communicates who you are in the minds of others, but can, depending on the industry, influence your career advancement.
When you are “on point” on the outside it also affects you on the inside. If you feel confident in your clothes you will feel more confident at work. Your clothes send a signal to your brain when your are in your work clothes you feel more productive. Dr. Karen Pine says “When we put on an item of clothing it is common for the wearer to adopt the characteristics associated with that garment. A lot of clothing has symbolic meaning for us, whether it's 'professional work attire' or 'relaxing weekend wear', so when we put it on we prime the brain to behave in ways consistent with that meaning."
To make sure your clothes are sending the right message.
Check out Riada’s 7 tips below...
Wear clothes that fits you well. Old school tailoring never fails. It’s a quick and simple way to make clothes work for you.
Don't show too much skin. This is always a No No. That means no short skirts, strapless tops, or shoes that barely cover your feet.
Never wear dirty clothes. This seems obvious but plenty of people think they can get away with wearing that dirty shirt just one more time before bringing it to the dry cleaners. News flash: You can't.
Don't wear wrinkled clothing. Use your iron! You'll look neat and way more put together.
Don't overdo it on the makeup. A polished look, less is more.
Wear appropriate shoes and accessories. Don't wear jewelry that is too flashy or obnoxious and always wear comfortable shoes that are appropriate for work.
Be aware of your office's dress code. Don’t under dress but be careful not to over do it.
Make sure your 'exterior' earns you a silent recommendation. Are you inspired and feeling strong, powerful and fierce?
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